The new rail passenger services on the Northumberland Line beween Ashington and Newcastle provides many opportunities for people to use sustainable rail travel as well as the socio-economic benefits for the area.

In 2024, Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership was commissioned by Northumberland County Council, Northern Trains and CrossCountry to support them in:

a. Creating a Northumberland Line Community Rail Partnership (NLCRP)

b. Forming a legal vehicle for managing the partnership and creating an appropriate business process

c. Recruiting directors for the board/management team from the local community

d. Ensuring the partnership can raise initial and ongoing funding from the rail industry and other supporters

e. Nurturing the new entity through its infancy and mentoring the new board of directors to achieve DfT accreditation at the earliest opportunity

During recent months, we have agreed a framework for a new community rail partnership for the route, engaging with rail companies, the DfT, Community Rail Network and local organisations, and registering a new not-for-profit community interest company, Northumberland Line Community Rail Partnership.

Work is now underway to seek funding to pump-prime the new company, to recruit directors and members in order for the new organisations to develop action plans for the benefit of local communities.

More information is available in the prospectus.  If you are interested and would like to learn more, we would love to hear from you so This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

We are delighted to have three shortlisted entries in the national Community Rail Awards 2025. 

CRA25 shortlist certificatesThe Awards celebrate work undertaken throughout the country by community rail partnerships and station adoption groups.

Category 3. Community Creative Projects and Station 

The Queer Rail Art Trail  (a joint entry with our partners in this project, Community Rail Cumbria) 

Artwork created by young members of Queer Cumbria, an LGBTQ+ support group, is now featured at Northern stations from Whithaven to Dunston.

Some of the Queer Rail Art Trail artwork

Category 5. Most Effective Communication Campaign 

World Heritage Sites by Rail 

A project illustrating how public transport can be used to travel throughout the country to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 Read more about the project here

WHS by Rail leaflet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category 12. Outstanding Volunteer Contribution 

Anne Ridley (our Director of Marketing, Comms and Events) is nominated in this category.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Awards event is taking place in Newcastle on 13 March 2025, which will be attended by over 400 people from the world of community rail and the rail industry. The three community rail partnerships in the North East are working with the Awards organiser, Community Rail Network, to provide opportunities for attendees to attend fringe events and learn more about what the region has to offer the visitor. 

More details of all the shortlisted entries can be found here.

YouTube star, five year old Tommy, was a superstar at a ribbon cutting event at Blaydon Station. Tommy and his dad make videos of visits to railway stations throughout the North East, which are uploaded to their YouTube channel

Station adoption group,  Friends of Blaydon Station have recently purchased a train themed bench for Blaydon Station. When Tommy recently visited Blaydon, the Friends were inspired to invite him to officially open the new bench.

Watched by his family, Tommy did an amazing job cutting the ribbon to declare the bench officially open.  He toured the station, checking out the murals on the walls, did some trainspotting and waved at the train crew and passengers whilst being filmed by his dad.  Arlo,our rail safety badger, made an appearance in the video too.     

Tommy with Arlo the Friends of Blaydon Station

     Click on the Tommy's Trains image below to watch the video.

           Screenshot from video            

The Friends of Blaydon Station are grateful for the support provided by Northern and Community Rail Network to purchase the bench and to ISS for their efforts in installing it on the platform.      

Timetables for trains throughout the country change on 15 December. 

The new timetable for the Tyne Valley Railway is now available here

Timetable leafletWe have also produced a printed copy of tne timetable, copies of which are being distributed to tourist information centres, Hexham Railway Station and other outlets in the area.

We are looking to extend the days the Water Tower is open and need to recruit additional team members to work in the cafe.

If you are interested in a part-time job as a Cafe/Retail Assistant, you can pick up an application pack from the Water Tower (open Wednesdays-Sundays).  Alternatively This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will send a pack to you by email.

Closing date for applications:  30 November 2024